Coin actuated accumulator switch



June 14, 1960 Fig. I.

c. s. TAYLOR 52 COIN ACTUATED ACCUMULATOR SWITCH Filed March 9, 1959 '3 IN V EN TOR.

Christopher G. Taylor BY United States Patent COIN ACTUATED ACCUMULATOR SWITCH Christopher G. Taylor, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Service Distributors, Inc., San Francisco, Calif.

Filed Mar. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 798,185

9 Claims. (Cl. 200-38) This invention relates to a new and improved coin actuated accumulator switch. Reference is made to Patent Number 2,810,798 of which the present invention is an improvement.

The present invention has particular application in installations such as automatic dryers in public selfoperated laundries wherein customers deposit coins which energize the dryer for a fixed period of time. Inasmuch as different fabrics require different drying times, it is sometimes necessary for the user to energize the machine for several consecutive cycles and each cycle requires a separate coin. The present invention enables the user to deposit as many coins as desired at the beginning of the drying operation and hence eliminates the inconvenience of the user having to deposit an additional coin at the end of each cycle. This enables the user to leave the premises and attend to other business as the dryer operates for several consecutive cycles and completely dries the clothes.

1 Thus, the present invention enables the user to deposit one or several coins at the same time to obtain a single cycle or multiples of the basic time cycle.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means to prevent a dishonest patron from depositing a single coin and actuating the coin slide in such a manner that the machine will operate for several cycles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in said Patent Number 2,810,798, and the present improvement enhances the objects and advantages therein set forth.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

Fig. 1 is a top plan of the switch and associated mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to Fig. 1 showing the coin slide advanced.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the structure of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Fig. 4. v i The present invention is preferably installed in a coin operatedmachine such as a dryer. In such a machine the user deposits a coin in a coin slot, depresses a striker bolt which contacts a switch thereby energizing a circuit which performs the drying cycle and also energizes an electric timing motor which, after the lapse of a basic time interval, shuts off the circuit. Drying of clothes such as woolens and the like normally requires considerably more time than light weight synthetic fabrics, for example, and hence automatic drying machines are normally provided with a basic time cycle which is sufficient for light weight fabrics and if the user wishes to dry fabrics which require more drying time, he deposits several coins, one for each cycle. Heretofore, it has been necessary for the user to deposit the second coin only at the completion of the first cycle and then to insert the third coin at the end of the second cycle. This is inconvenient in that it requires the patron to remain near the machinefor a prolonged period of time. As hereinafter set forth, the present invention enables the user to deposit one or several coins at the same time depending upon the number of cycles of drying operation desired. Although the present invention is described as installed in a drying machine, it will be understood that it can also be used in other coin actuated machines.

The coin slide structure 11 forms no part of the present invention. Such mechanisms are produced by several different manufacturers and the details of the construction thereof form no part of the present invention. Illustrative of the details of the construction of such slides are the following United States Patents: 1,908,380; 1,908,752; 1,941,638; 1,992,642; 2,026,921; 2,049,597 and 2,053,503.

A typical coin slide 11 employs a striker bolt guide 12. Spring 13 attached to striker bolt 16 adjacent the inner end thereof, biases striker bolt 16 to its retracted position. A portion of one side edge of striker bolt 16 is formed with a rack 17 which is engaged by a circular pawl 18 mounted on striker bolt guide 12 by means of pin 19. A spring 21 biases pawl 18 toward engagement with rack 17. The structure and function of pawl 18 and rack 17 are such that once a coin is inserted in the appropriate hole and the user depresses striker bolt 16, bolt '16 must continue in its motion until it has reached full projected position. Thereafter, bolt 16 may be retracted, but it cannot again be projected until it has reached fully retracted position and a new coin has been inserted.

On the inner end of striker bolt 16 is a spring finger 26 which is L-s'haped in cross section. The top leg of spring 26 is bolted to striker bolt 16 by bolt 27. The other leg of spring 26 extends substantially vertically downward and is very flexible and has an inwardly bent angularly positioned terminal portion or finger 28. Also mounted on the inner end of striker bolt 16, but located extending parallel to the direction of movement of bolt 16 is a downwardly projecting blade 29, the purpose of which is hereinafter set forth.

Mounted below striker bolt 16 and adjacent the limit of its inward projection is a switch mounting bracket 31 which is suitably attached to the frame 32 of the machine. On the lower surface of bracket 31 is positioned an electric timer motor 33 of conventional construction and incorporating a reductiongear box 34 having an upwardly projecting spindle 36. Timer motor 33 and reduction gear 34 are of conventional construction manufactured by various sources. Illustrative of such timer motor are the following United States Patents: 2,300,785; 2,353,305 and 2,324,040.

Loosely mounted on spindle 36 is a cam member 37 disposed parallel to the direction of movement of striker bolt 16, the cam being held elevated above the surface of bracket 31 by means of collar 38 of lesser diameter than cam 37. The shape of cam 37 is subject to certain modifications. In the accompanying drawings, the cam has three high dwells or corners 41 and is generally triangular in shape. The provision of three high dwells 41 enables the user to insert one, two or three coins at a time. It will be understood that more or fewer high dwells may be formed on cam 37, thereby correspondingly varying the maximum number of coins which may be deposited at one time. It will also be understood that the general shape of cam 37 may also be varied to accomplish the timing function hereinafter described.

Projecting upwardly from the upward surface of cam 37 is aninner pin 42 which is relatively short. Projecting radially outwardly from spindle 36 is a radial pin or key Patented June 14, 1960 nal 43 of such a length that as the spindle 36 revolves, key 43 contacts vertical pin 42 and moves the cam 37 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l, as the timer motor 33 revolves. Also projecting upwardly from the top surface of cam 37 are vertical pins 44 spaced from the axis of spindle 36 a greater distance than pin 42?, spaced from each other 120, and also extending to a higher. elevation than pin 42. The number of pins 44 corresponds to the number of high dwells 41 and is here shown as three. The position of pins 44 is such that each time the striker bolt 16 is projected inwardly the flexible finger 23 thereof engages one of the pins 44 and rotates cam 37 through a circular arc of 1 20. degrees. On the retractive stroke of striker bolt 16 the flexible finger 23 bends in a clockwise direction as viewed in-Fig. 2 and clears the pin 44 .so that the cam 37 isnot reversed.

A secondspring 46 is fixed to-braoket31 and curves upwardly in an arcuate shape so thatit bears against the side of cam 37 to restrainiclockwise or backward movement when the striker bolt 16 is retracted. However, by reason of the arcuate shape of spring 46, when cam 37 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction, spring 7496 is depressed below the level of cam 37 and hence does not impede turning of thecam.

The blade 29 assumes the position shown in Fig. as the strikerbolt 16 nears the end of its inward movement. Blade 29 is interposed in the path of the next pin 44 and hence prevents the cam-37 from rotating more than 120 degrees for each strokeof'bolt 16, and thereby intentional or accidental movement of striker bolt 16 in suchmanner as to obtain two cycles of operation for a single coin is prevented.

It has previously beennoted that cam -37-is-loosely mounted on spindle 36. The timer motor 33 thus does not directly drive cam 37 until keyr43 moves around to a position where it engages'pin 42.

Mounted angularly and to one side of cam 37 is a single pole double-throw snap switch 51 having a mounting bracket 52 attachedjto bracket 31. 'The construction of such switches is also conventional andforms no part of the present invention. An outwardly projecting switch finger 54, which serves as a cam follower, engages cam 37 and whena high dwell or corner 41 of'can1'3'7 is in the position shown in Fig.- 1, it movesfiuger 54 outwardly and causes switch 51 to be thrown "to oneposition. When high dwell 41 passes out of contact with switch finger 54, switch 51 snaps to the opposite position shown in Fig. 3 thereby breaking the former set ot'contacts and establishing a different set of contacts;

In operation, when cam 37 reaches the position shown in Fig. 1 one of the high dwells 41 engages switch finger 54 which throws switch 51 to shut off the current which energizes the operating circuit of the machine (not shown) and also shuts-off'the current which energizes timer motor 33. Accordingly, spindle 36 stops rotation. When the user deposits a singlecoin anddepresses striker bolt 16, finger 28 engages one of-the pins dd and moves it in a counter-clockwise direction approximately 120 degrees. At the beginning of .this movement, finger 28 bends due to the spring tensionof switch finger 54, and when this tension is overcome there is a tendency for cam 37 to jump ahead more than the required 120 degrees. Such over movement is prevented by the next pin 44 engaging blade 29 as shown in Fig. 5. The previously mentioned 120 degrees movement advances high dwell 41 out of contact with switch finger 54 despite the fact that the spindle 36 has not turned. The mechanism thus assumes the position shown in :Fig. 3. Switch finger 54 is-depressed causing switch 51 to-throw in the opposite direction energizing the electric circuit driving the machine and also energizing timer motor 33 which turns spindle 36 and radial pin-53. At any time'in the cycle when the user retracts striker bolt 16, finger 28 bends upwardly toclear pin 44. Spring 46 prevents backward movement of cam 37 whilethe-finger zs-is-clearingpin 44. After a short time interval, pin 43 engages pin 42 and causes cam 37 to turn as driven by the timer motor 33 until a subsequent high dwell 41 reaches the same position shown in Fig. 1, whereupon the circuit is broken.

1 If the user wishes to deposit two coins instead of one, he depresses the striker bolt 16 a second time and this causes the finger 28 to engage the next pin 44 and turn the cam 37 through an additional 120 degrees arc. This does not interfere with energization ofthe operating circuit of the machine or or timer motor 33 except momentarily. The cam 37 remains stationary through an additional 120 degrees of movement of spindle 36 and hence the next high dwell 41 does noticngage switch finger 54 until two timing cycles have been completed. It is apparent that threecoins may be inserted at'a time and thereby the operating circuit remains energized for three timing cycles. By substituting a cam having more than three dwells, additional cycles can be employed.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail, by way' of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

' What is claimed:

l-[A coin actuated switch mechanism comprising a striker bolt movable between retracted and projected'positions, a detent mounted on said striker bolt for movement therewith and movable between a first position on movement of said striker bolt toward projected position and a second position on movement of said striker bolt to-' ward retracted position, a timer motor havinga shaft, a, cam having a plurality of high dwells rotatively mounted on said shaft, means for driving said cam from said shaft in a first direction of rotation and not in the opposite direction, said cam being mounted on said shaft for free movement in said first diretcion in advance of movement of said'last'ment ioned means, a plurality of projections on said cam corresponding in number to said high dwells, said projections being located relative to said detent whereby one and only one of said projections is contacted by said detent when in first position upon movement of said striker bolt toward projected position and movedby said detent through an arcuate path of360' degrees divided by the number of high dwells on said cam, said projections being located whereby the next in order of said projections is moved into the path of movementof said detent, said detent being moved by said next in order of said projections to second position on movement of said striker bolt to retracted position, and asingle-pole double-throw switch having a switch finger positioned to be engaged by said high dwells on said cam when said camis in a first position to throw said switch in one direction and to be disengaged by said high dwell to throw said switch in the opposite direction when said detent advances said cam beyond said first position.

2. A switch mechanism according to claim 1. in which said detent comprises a flexible leg.

I 3. A switch mechanism according to claim 1 which further comprises a blade carried by said striker bolt and, in the projected position of said striker bolt, interposed in the path of movement of said next projection to restrain arcuate movement of said .cam vmore than 360 degrees divided by the number of highidwellson said cam.

4. A switch mechanism according to claiml which furthercomprises a spring mounted adjacent said cam and engaging said cam. to restrain movement of. said cam in a directionloppositerotation of said. shaft.

5. A.coin actuated switchmechanism comprising a striker bolt movable between retracted and projected, positions, adetent mounted on said striker belt for movement'therewith and movable between afirst position on movement of said striker bolt toward projected position and .a :second position on movement of, said. striker ,bolt

toward retracted position, a timer motor having a shaft, a cam rotatively mounted on said shaft having a plurality of substantially straight sides, the corners of said cam comprising high dwells, means for driving said cam from said shaft, said cam being mounted on said shaft for free movement in said first direction in advance of movement of said last mentioned means, a plurality of projections on said cam corresponding in number to said corners, said projections being located relative to said detent whereby one and only one of said projections is contacted by said detent when in first position upon movement of said striker bolt toward projected position and moved by said detent through an arcuate path of 360 degrees divided by the number of high dwells on said cam,

said projections being located whereby the next in order of said projections is moved into the path of movement of said detent, said detent being moved by said next in order of said projections to second position on movement of said striker bolt to retracted position, and a single-pole, double-throw switch having a switch finger positioned to be engaged by said high dwells on said cam when said cam is in a first position to throw said switch in one direction and to be disengaged by said high dwell to throw said switch in the opposite direction when said detent advances said cam beyond said first position.

6. A switch mechanism according to claim 5 in which said next in order of said projections is positioned upon completion of the first of two successive strokes of said striker bolt to be contacted by said detent on the second of said successive strokes and moved through an additional arcuate path of 360 degrees divided by the number of high dwells on said cam.

7. A coin actuated switch mechanism comprising a striker bolt movable between retracted and projected positions, a detent mounted on said striker bolt for movement therewith and movable between a first position on movement of said striker bol-t toward projected position and a second position on movement of said striker bolt toward retracted position, a timer motor having a shaft, a cam having at least two high dwells rotatively mounted on said shaft, means for driving said cam from said shaft, said cam being mounted on said shaft for free movement in said first direction in advance of movement of said last mentioned means, at least two projections on said cam corresponding in number to said high dwells, said projections being located relative to said detent whereby the first of said projections is contacted by said detent when in first position upon the first of two successive movements of said striker bolt toward projected position and moved by said detent through an arcuate path of 360 degrees divided by the number of high dwells on said cam, and the second of said projections is moved to a position to be contacted by said detent on the secone of said successive strokes of said striker bolt and moved through an additional arcuate path of 360 de grees divided by the number of high dwells on said cam, and a single-pole, double-throw switch having a switch finger positioned to be engaged by said high dwells on said cam when said cam is in a first position to throw said switch in one direction and to be disengaged by said high dwell to throw said switch in the opposite direction when'said detent advances said cam beyond said first position.

8. A switch mechanism according to claim 7 which further comprises means carried by said striker bolt and, in the projected position of said striker bolt at the completion of said first of two successive movements, interposed in the path of movement of said second projection to restrain arcuate movement of said cam more than 360 degrees divided by the number of high dwells on said cam.

9. A coin actuated switch mechanism comprising a striker bolt movable between retracted and projected positions, a timer motor having a shaft, a cam having a plurality of high dwells rotatively mounted on said shaft, means for driving said cam from said shaft, said cam being mounted on said shaft for free movement in said first direction in advance of movement of said last mentioned means, cooperative means on said striker bolt and said cam for moving said cam on the first of two successive strokes of said striker bolt through an arcuate path of 360 degrees divided by the number of high dwells on said cam, and on the second of said successive strokes of said striker bolt through an additional arcuate path of 360 degrees divided by the number of high dwells on said cam and switch means actuated by said cam and having a switch thrown in one direction when said switch means is engaged by a high dwell of said cam and thrown in the opposite direction when said switch means is not engaged by a high dwell of said cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,810,798 Taylor Oct. 2-2, 1957 

